Eden Hazard's Real Madrid Move Was Planned A Year In Advance

Eden Hazard's mega-money move from Chelsea to Real Madrid was one of the biggest deals of the latest window, but the Belgium international has now revealed how the transfer was planned a year in advance.

After seven trophy-laden years with the Blues, Hazard joined Los Blancos at the beginning of the season for a reported fee of €100 million (R1.6 million), and in the process became the face of Zinedine Zidane's rebuilding project in Madrid.

The Belgian has now revealed how the deal was planned more than a year before it took place, after being convinced to join the club following a discussion with Real president Florentino Perez.

"After (that), I spoke with Luka Modric and I felt that everyone wanted to see me at Real Madrid. I'd already made my mind up after the (2018 FIFA) World Cup, and I said to myself: 'I have to join Real Madrid now.'"

10. Eden Hazard (Chelsea to Real Madrid for €100m in 2019)

9. Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid for €101m in 2013)

8. Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United for €105m in 2016)

7. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid to Juventus for €117m in 2018)

6. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid to FC Barcelona for €120m in 2019)

5. Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund to FC Barcelona for €125m in 2017)

4. Joao Felix (Benfica to Atletico Madrid for €126m in 2019)

3. Kylian Mbappe (Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain for €135m in 2018)

2. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool to FC Barcelona for €145m in 2018)

1. Neymar (FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for €222m in 2017)

Hazard endured an injury-interrupted start to life in Madrid, but has since made eight appearances for the LaLiga giants, scoring once.

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